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The USDA and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) are starting to implement a new program called the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Under the Federal NAIS program any farm that has livestock that for any reason is moved off the farm where they were born, whether for sale, slaughter, or exhibition will be required to register the location of the farm with the Federal Government. Then by 2009 farms may be required to register and tag each individual animal with a remote electronic sensing device. Until 2008 the Federal NAIS program is voluntary during which time public comments will be taken and adjustments to the NAIS program made.
The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has decided to implement NAIS in Indiana much more rapidly. Last April BOAH placed into the Indiana code an administrative rule that requires locations (called premises by the government) in the State of Indiana to be registered
with BOAH by September 1, 2006. Included in the mandatory location registration is any single postal address that moves livestock (regardless of number of animals) on or off of the farm where it was born. Livestock included in the mandatory location registration are cattle, bison, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, and fish produced by aquaculture. Excluded at this time from location registration are animals such as horses, donkeys, camels, and ostriches and household pets. Any facility that hosts a livestock exhibition is also required to register their location with BOAH.
The arguments for the NAIS program is to allow state health agencies to speed the identification of livestock in the event of an animal health emergency such as the discovery of mad cow disease. Industrial farms and confinement feeding operations also seem to favor of the system believing it will increase their ability to export.
Arguments against the NAIS system are filling up small farm Internet sites. The greatest fear seems to be that NAIS will stifle local sources of production through over-regulation and additional costs. NAIS is seen as an economic threat to medium and small sized small farms who will be forced to register and bear the economic cost of the location registration, reporting the movement of animals off-farm into the selling, slaughter, or exhibition venues, the cost of the micro chips tags, equipment to read the tags, and software to upload the data to the government. County fairs, and perhaps even farmers markets, would fall under this additional regulatory burden. Others argue that if the growing numbers of small-scale farmers who sell directly to citizens are forced out of business then customers will have to buy food from the industrial food system which, by its scale and single species confinement, only multiply the effects of food safety and disease problems. Some argue that increased testing rather then tracking of livestock is more effective in preventing disease. There is concern about the privacy of the information in the state and federal databases that may be managed private companies. Voices against the system point out that the best way to prevent food safety problems is to raise the food yourself or know the farmer that you buy from. Finally, state agencies have an incentive to fast track the NAIS surveillance system so they can access USDA grants to pay for department personnel.
Everyone wants a reliable, safe, healthy, and quality food supply. We at Traders Point Creamery believe that this is best achieved through the re-establishment of a local food system made up of small farms and producers. Such a system is emerging in the Central Indiana region with the proliferation of farmers markets, restaurants that feature local foods, and citizens who buy directly from local farms. This emerging local food system needs to be supported and encouraged, not suppressed. If the state and federal NAIS is supportive then it is a wonderful thing. If, on the other hand, the freedom of citizens to make the choice to eat local or buy direct from the farmer is being suppressed by the proposed NAIS system, or other any government agency, then the regulatory environment needs to be changed to better reflect the voices of citizens and to nurture the rebirth of local family farms.
Winter Farmers Market (Saturday 9 to Noon)
Expect to find lots of good local food at the Winter Market this week. Spinach, kale, salad mixes, mustard greens, and baby cabbage to name a few will be available. I made my last squash pie this week out of the winter squash I had stored from last fall and the supply at Winter Market is no more. How sad is that except that soon we will see a whole lot of spring goodies emerging form local gardens and farms. Roger Sharritt continues to be the only farmer with chicken for sale and last week farm eggs, usually abundant, almost sold out. Lamb is still available, as is pork, and Cross Roads Poultry, with quail and turkey, should be here this Saturday. Joe and Vonda Phelps continue to supply beef and pork to their loyal customers, while Apple Family Farm and the Swiss Connection have beef for those that prefer 100% grass fed. Constance Ferry of Hobbit Gardens will be here again on Saturday. Constance is an amazing herbalist and grower with one of the best herb gardens I have seen. At the Winter Market this Saturday she will have potted herbs, dried herbs, scented oils, culinary vinaigrettes, and healing suave. Full of information and forgotten lore, ask Constance for suggestions for your herb garden and she can perhaps supply the plants when spring arrives. Saturday is supposed to be mostly sunny with a high of 50 so a great morning to visit the farm and stock up for the week.
Stay Tuned – Tim Grimm
Stay Tuned is a monthly acoustic concert series in the Loft at the Creamery. Last month we welcomed Sam Shaber to a packed house. Quite a success for the first one! This month on Friday March 24, local singer songwriter Tim Grimm will be featured. Tim lived in LA, where he has been in, and written music for, the movie and TV industry. He moved back to a farm in Brown County several years ago to devote himself to his family, farming and music. I have heard his music before and his songs of life, family, and farm are wonderful and will speak to anyone with dirt under their nails or farm memories. Tim plays from 7 to 9 and a light dinner of appetizers are served in the Creamery Café from 6 to 7. We ran out of food last week with the unexpected large crowd that descended on the concert. Jennifer promises ample provisions for the March concert. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Creamery office, from Indy CD and Vinyl – Broad Ripple and Luna Music on 86th St & Downtown.
100% Grass-Fed Ground Beef Sale
We have an abundance of lean ground beef from our herd that we are putting on sale in our farm store for the next week starting Saturday March 4 through Saturday March 11. Normally priced at $5 a pound it will be on sale for $3 a pound. So, now is the time to stock up on ground beef from our organic farm.
Here is the latest word from Creamery Café Chef Jennifer Luttrell:
The Creamery Café is open for lunch Wednesday – Friday 11:30 – 2:00 p.m. serving meals made with organic, local, and seasonal ingredients.
Lunch Menu for March 8 – 10 is:
Smokey Chipotle Chili with Organic Blue Corn Chips, Sour Cream and TPC Fleur de la Terre Cheese (vegetarian option available)
Soup: Garlic Broth with Fresh Greens
Seldom Seen Farm Greens with Organic Carrots (maple-balsamic or herb yogurt dressing)
Drinks: Mocha, Latte, Iced Tea, Organic Coffee, Chocolate Milk, Milk
Breakfast is served every Saturday during the Winter Farmers Market 9 – Noon.
Breakfast Menu for March 4 is:
Scrambled Seven Springs Eggs with TPC Cheeses and Herbs
Blueberry Baked French Toast
Phelps Farm Sausage Patties
Yogurt Cups with or without Granola
Smoothies, Organic Coffee, Organic OJ, Chocolate Milk, Hot Chocolate, Milk
That’s about it for this week. Hope to see you soon at the farm.
Regards,
David Robb
Traders Point Creamery
Indiana's Only Organic & Natural Farmers Market
Traders Point Winter Market
Each Saturday
9am to noon
Certified Organic Transitional Organic Naturally Raised
Vegetables - Meats - Dairy
From Local Farms
At
Traders Point Creamery
9101 Moore Road
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